"Thunderstorms will sweep across New England and the mid-Atlantic into Monday evening, and the strongest storms can bring damaging winds and torrential downpours," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Andy Mussoline said.

The downpours will reduce visibility for motorists and force outdoor activities indoors but will provide needed rainfall as drought continues to plague a large part of the region.

Cities in the threat zone include the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia to New York City to Boston to Bangor, Maine. Burlington, Vermont; Albany, New York; Trenton, New Jersey; and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; will also be at risk.

Residents should seek shelter as soon as thunder is heard.

"Widespread heat and humidity will fuel the threat for the strong thunderstorms," Mussoline said.

Humidity levels will increase from the weekend, creating even higher and uncomfortable AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures.

While the thunderstorms will briefly knock down temperatures over the communities they cross, the heat relief will only be temporary.

"For those looking for relief from the heat in the Northeast, it is not looking good," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dave Samuhel said.

There will be a drop in humidity Tuesday into Wednesday, but highs in the 90s will continue to encompass the mid-Atlantic and parts of eastern New England through most of this week.

"It will turn muggy again later in the week," Samuhel said.

Only the eastern Great Lakes and interior New England will catch a day or two with temperatures closer to normal after Monday. This includes Buffalo, New York, and Burlington, Vermont.

With temperatures expected to reach 90 F or higher in New York City through at least Wednesday, this heat wave will be the longest for the city since mid-July 2013.

"Most nights in the large cities [of the mid-Atlantic] will be quite warm this week," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. "Temperatures in the urban areas will dip only into the 70s for a few hours and will offer only brief relief from the heat."

By the coming weekend, needed rainfall could bring a drop in temperatures.

"Overall, the weather pattern looks a bit warmer than normal well into early August, not only across the Northeast, but across much of the country," Samuhel said.